3 minute read
Down on the Farm
Self Control?
BY JACKIE MOAD
“Do not waste time on what you cannot control.”
– Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher (161–180 AD)
Well, I’m not the only one who is relieved that the hay harvest is done. It’s always a tense and intense time for all of us, that makin’ hay while the sun shines. “Why so?” you ask. It comes down to two words: no control.
I can organize and multitask all I want – book Gord, my hay man extraordinaire, line up a crew of “studly farmhands” willing to sweat buckets to get the bales from field to barn, line up a flat-bed trailer, and then – drumroll –ready, set … rain!
And I wasn’t the only disgruntled soul around here. My ancient sheep Socs, although blind as a bat, decided that the grass was indeed much greener on the other side of the fence. Nothing wrong with her sense of smell, it seems. She pushed her head through the six-by-six inch page wire and had a real good nosh. Unfortunately, she couldn’t pull her head back once satiated. The crying could be heard all the way up to the horse palace. It was wire-cutters to the rescue; then secure tiny-holed chicken wire to the page wire just in case she was tempted again. No control, that old ewe.
It was a bit of a different challenge for the horses. Well actually, not as much for the two elderly gals, both visually impaired, but again nothing wrong with their olfactory senses. At 28 and 33, they’ve had many years of grass sniffing but have mellowed with age and had seemed content with their grains and hay. Not so for Sisco.
Some may recall his introduction to the TAKE 5 a few years ago. A handsome white unicorn with striking blue eyes and a voracious appetite – he’s always had a bit of an issue with self control when it comes to food (hmm… sort of like me), especially treats and sweets – actually, almost everything except parsnips!
But I digress. Sisco was finding it particularly hard being on the other side of a yummy field, starting to push his weight around, especially on the fence posts.
And at that very moment, Mother Nature stepped in. After two false starts, it was cut, tether, bale and store – and the task was complete. Whew!
Now for one final control issue: Sisco in the pasture. I just knew he would become a piggily-wiggly the moment he had his freedom. That was when Carys –my exceptional and oh-so-strong horsehelper /whisperer – told me about the magic grazing muzzle. It looks a little comical on him, but it just might do the trick. Time will tell. And who knows, it might not be such a bad idea for others with limited self-control!
Jackie Moad is still rejoicing over another successful hay season while mulling over her next task – what to do with three trees of ripe yellow plums? – as she continues to farm that 20 acres of organic paradise in Cedar.
